By Marla Jones,Managing Editor •marla@southerntorch.com

FORT PAYNE, Ala. — The Fort Payne City Council held their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 2.

Robert Avery of the 2020 Census Bureau addressed the Mayor and Council regarding the upcoming census and its importance for the State of Alabama and our area. Our area will employ 600 census workers in the height of the census season, which is the middle of the summer. Half a million people will be hired nationwide. The starting pay is $13 per hour and you may work as little as one hour per day or 40 hours per week. To apply online, visit www.2020census.gov/jobs. 

A public hearing was held to receive comments regarding the proposed vacation of an unopened alleyway off of Elm Street. The petition had run in the newspaper for four consecutive weeks, as stated by law with no comments made. Resolution 2019-15 authorizing the vacation of said alleyway was passed by the Council. 

Human Resources Director Don Fisher addressed the Council on the need to charge a fee for background checks and payroll verification for City of Fort Payne employees. The City will now charge a $35 fee for this information.

Mayor Larry Chesser updated the Council on the City’s current sewer projects and stated that Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments (TARCOG) would be holding their annual board meeting at the Pavilion in Fort Payne on June 25, beginning at 12pm.

In other business:

• The Council made a budget adjustment of $2,500 for 11 baby changing stations to be placed at various parks and recreational facilities
• The Council approved an activity permit for the Friends of DeKalb County Animal Adoption Center Walk/Run event on the Wills Valley route for Saturday, October 12
• Fort Payne Police Chief Randy Bynum suggested the moving of an existing street light to one pole down at 1601 Dean Road

The next meeting of the Fort Payne City Council will be held at 12pm on Tuesday, April 16 at the Council Chambers on the second floor of Fort Payne City Hall.